Sorry Arsene, nowadays austerity just isn’t as pretty as you’d like

James Southern argues that Arsenal will not match Chelsea and Manchester United until they invest in a solid core

Wednesday 10 February 2010

If there’s one thing we can all learn from Chelsea (apart from whom to call for a sly look at a Premier League training ground), it’s that the Premiership title is up for sale. With decent managerial guidance, it’s quite realistic for any fat cat to expect to be polishing the Premiership trophy after a couple of years and around £150-200 million.

Of course, Arsenal don’t have anywhere near that sort of cash. They do, however, have Arsene Wenger. This is a man with an exquisite eye for tactical detail, a fine perception of the art of football, and a reputation as a truly great manager. Since establishing himself, Wenger’s philosophy has been to rely on the power of player potential. This has seen some very promising young talent emerge from Highbury/Emirates over the last decade, but with the Gunners heading for a fourth consecutive trophy-less season, is it time to question Arsene’s extreme youth team?

I don’t think anybody can deny that watching first Wayne Rooney, then Didier Drogba and their respective cronies tear apart their timid back line over the past week or so has sealed Arsenal’s fate of a finish outside of the top two this season. For all the potential there, there are serious deficiencies at the Emirates. What is most interesting is that these deficiencies flow through the backbone of the team, a backbone where United have Edwin Van Der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher and Rooney, and where Chelsea have Petr Cech, John Terry, Michael Essien and Drogba. It is from this rigid stem that flair and talent can blossom, and trophies can be won.

I’ll start with the goalkeeper; Manuel Almunia. I think that gives enough reason to spend some of the money from the Kolo Toure/Emmanuel Adebayor sale on someone decent in goal. Secondly, William Gallas will never be strong enough to be in charge of a back four. This has been uncovered several times this season, and although Thomas Vermaelen will be good, he isn’t good enough yet. Maybe Rio Ferdinand is over the hill at Man United but he knows how to organise a defence and knows how to make the best of the talented Jonny Evans. Arsenal need someone to unify the defence and stop them all flapping around, entangled in each other’s bootlaces while Drogba whistles past.

Perhaps that is all a little harsh, but if he’s unwilling to cough up for a defender, then Wenger cannot deny the need for a commanding central midfielder. Brian Clough was of the view that a club should never have a creative gem in midfield without a dogged tackler in midfield to win the ball for him. The incredible skill of Cesc Fabregas is suffocating alongside the incompetence of Alexandre Song. I dread to imagine what that midfield will look like if the Spaniard hops over to Catalunia this summer. Compared to the glory days of Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira it’ll look like Ringo Starr leading a Beatles tribute band.

Finally, the centre forward situation could do with a rethink. Andrei Arshavin had more in common with that annoying Russian meerkat than he did with Drogba last weekend. He’s just too wasteful and his skill doesn’t make up for his lack of presence, and has been dining out on his Euro 2008 performance for too long (remember Thomas Brolin?). With no Robin van Persie, Arsenal need five good chances before they can score a goal. Sometimes they can do this, other times not.

Arsenal fans shouldn’t be depressed just yet. It may be frustrating for now, but let’s not forget that Wenger has sowed the seeds of a potentially trophy winning team. He just needs to buy a tractor and a rake and start harvesting………..

5 comments

Agree with most of your points, I think we all know that Arsenal will never win the title until they invest in what you refer to as a “backbone”.

Yet I think your criticism of Song and Arshavin is unfair. The former has actually been excellent this season, doing the job of a defensive central midfielder competently and with increased physicality. Arshavin is a great winger – and a good example of what happens when you pay for proven quality – but has been forced to play out of position for most of the season. He’s not a striker.

I couldn’t disagree more. Your football knowledge is evidently lacking. Especially having read your article as to the Owen Coyle situation. It is clear to me that you have your Man Utd specs on (presumably you are a red).

It pains me to read articles like this because the children are the future. Arsenal’s youth system is the future and you are a cretin.

I agree with lots of your points. Goalkeeping is clearly a weak area and Arsenal haven’t had a top quality keeper since Seaman in my opinion (although Lehmann performed fairly well for a couple of seasons). I think Jussi Jääskeläinen at Bolton is a quality keeper. At 34 he still has a few seasons left in him and i’m baffled that nobody has signed him as he’s been performing well for countless seasons. Older keepers can make a real difference to teams just look at Schwarzer and Friedel at Fulham and Villa respectively and the impact they’ve had.
I agree with the previous poster that you’re sightly harsh on Song who i’ve seen play pretty well. He’s by no means Vieira in his prime but then who is? (Essien perhaps). I think he’s a decent player who’ll improve with experience.
I also agree that Arsenal need a commanding CB and a proper out and out CF. Hangeland and Carlton Cole probably fit the bill but will cost a few quid.
I think in order to succeed Arsenal have to splash the cash like you said. Sadly I doubt whether Wenger will do this or whether he has the financial backing he needs.